You're probably familiar with the need for heartworm prevention in dogs, but did you know cats need protection as well?
Heartworm infection occurs when a mosquito that's carrying heartworm larvae bites the cat. The heartworm larvae initially travel through the cat's system toward the lungs. And the worms don't have to mature to start causing serious damage to the cat's respiratory system. What may appear to be asthma or bronchitis may actually be part of heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD).
Signs of heartworm infection can be similar to other diseases, so it's easy to misdiagnose. These can include coughing, anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, open-mouth breathing, rapid breathing, and difficulty breathing.
While outdoor cats are most at risk, there is also risk for cats kept strictly indoors. And cats who live in mosquito-dense areas are at much higher risk. Cats of any age are vulnerable.
There is no approved treatment in the U.S. for heartworm infection, but, luckily, safe and easy heartworm prevention is available. Currently, there are four different products to choose from.
Talk to your vet about your cat's risk of heartworm infection and which heartworm prevention product would be most appropriate.
And check out this link to learn more about feline heartworm disease: www.heartwormsociety.org
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